Super32 Day I Breakdown

TOM Contenders Hold Serve

Willie Saylor, Editor

Greensboro, NC—

In what has grown into arguably the toughest and deepest, the landmines at the Super32 occur early and often. For major tournaments like this, upsets are usually indicative of the depth and balance. But surprisingly, in a field of talent undeniably strong, the favorites outlined in TOM’s Super32 Preview earlier this week, held true.
Of course, there were some surprises, and no shortage of highlights.

In our Day I recap, we’ll give you the lowdown on the competition from the 1500+ field.

103

TOM’s Picks: 1. Nathan Tomasello 2. Darian Cruz 3. Colton Howell 4. Zac Hall

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• Brendan Calas, NJ vs. Ryan Diehl, WV
• Darian Cruz, PA vs. Dalton Macri, PA
• Nathan Tomasello, OH vs. Michael Olson
• Will Crisco, CT vs. Richie Bliss, FL

Field Changes: Howell moved to 112.

Notes: Cruz and Tomasello, who split matches in Fargo and Fila’s, are still on a collision course although Ryan Diehl could have something to say about that.

“Making His Mark”: Talented freshman Zac Hall (MI) lost a tough won early (1-0) and rattled off 5 straight wrestleback wins. He’s not polished yet, but he’s a grinder.

112

TOM’s Picks: 1. Freddie Rodriguez. 2. George DiCamillo 3. Nicky Roberts 4. Will Mason

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• Freddie Rodriguez, MI vs Zeke Moisey, PA
• Jacob Schmitt, MI vs. Anthony Ashnault, NJ
• George DeCamillo, PA vs. Zain Retherford, PA
• Evan Link, PA vs. Connor Schram, PA

Notes: Early excitement came in this bracket as PA State Placer, Chris Vasser took odds-on favorite Freddie Rodriguez to the wire in the opening round. FRod overcame a 5-4 deficit with :30 left to move on.

Moisey has had trouble with a shoulder ‘popping out’ all tournament. Beating FRod in semis’ tomorrow is a tough task. With an injury, even tougher.

Jr. World Team Member, Nicky Roberts was beaten, 3-2, by PA State Placer, Evan Link.

“Making His Mark”: Gary Wayne Harding. He lost to PA State Champ Conner Schram, but he’s still in the hunt for a medal. He’s legit. And he’s only a frosh.

119

TOM’s Picks: 1. Earl Hall 2. Joey Dance 3. Nathan Kraisser 4. Eric Devos

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• Nathan Kraisser, MD vs. Devon Lotito, PA
• Brandon Fifeld, MI vs. Earl Hall, FL
• Mike Fleck, PA vs. Joey Dance, VA
• Eric Devos, IA vs. Russell Coleman, MO

Notes: Our pick Earl Hall has had a rough go of it, pulling out buzzer-beater win in his last two bouts. His ¼ final opponent is on a roll. Nathan Kraisser has posted three falls and a major.

“Making His Mark”: Mike Fleck (PA) has wins over a state champion and two state placers in reaching the quarters.

125

TOM’s Picks: 1. Rossi Bruno 2. Kevin Norstrem 3. John Fahy 4. Joe Rendina

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• Cody Wheeler, PA vs. Chris Caton, NC
• Rossi Bruno, FL vs. Josh Keiffer, IN
• Joe Rendina, MI vs. Geoff Alexander, PA
• Narcisco Inchaurregui, OH vs. Kevin Norstrem, FL

Notes: Par-for-the-course, for the most part, although Fahy was beaten.

“Making His Mark”: Wheeler. He was our: ‘Check out’ kid in the preview. He finds himself in ¼ finals after taking out Soph. National Champ, Fahy.

130

TOM’s Picks: 1. Brandon Jeske 2. Tyler Liberatore 3.Alec Mooradian 4. Bobby Dierna

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• Ethan Raley, IN vs. Nick Soto, FL
• Tyler Liberatore, FL vs. Cam Throckmorton, PA
• Steven Rodriguez, NY vs. Solomon Chishko, PA
• Greg Flournoy, VA vs. Brandon Jeske, VA

Field Changes: Bobby Dierna moved up to 135.

Notes: Ethan Raley is on a roll after posting falls in his last two bouts.

“Making His Mark”: Chishko. He has a big task at 8AM with Rodriguez, but after placing here last year as an 8th grader, he’s confirming his pre-high school legitimacy by beating State Runner-Up Colt Fought and being in the medal (and title) hunt again this year.

135

TOM’s Picks: 1. Steve Spearman 2. Nate Skonieczny 3. Ty Lydic 4. Bronson Steuber

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• Steve Spearman, PA vs. Ty Lydic, PA
• Bronson Steuber, MN vs. Chace Ekster, TX
• Bobby Dierna, NY vs. Dan Neff, PA
• Nate Skonieczny, OH vs. Brent Fickel, OH

Notes: There wasn’t a weight class on Day I as collectively impressive as 135lbs. Spearman, Lydic, Steuber, and Fickel were absolutely lights-out. Every one of them fights through each position and wins flurries. An absolute honor to watch as a high school wrestling fan.

“Making His Mark”: Ekster. Improbable run highlighter by his last win when he knocked out Cody Bromall.

140

TOM’s Picks: 1. Jason Tsirtsis 2. Elijah Sullivan 3. Jacob Crawford 4. Quinton Murphy

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• Jason Tsirtsis, IN vs. Devon Gobbo, NJ
• Quinton Murphy, NY vs. Andrew Romanchik, OH
• Jacob Crawford, VA vs. Charlie Lynch, MD
• Lou Mascola, NJ vs. Roger Wildmo, MI

Notes: Mascola shows no signs of slowing down after moving up in weight, considerably, that last year or so. Murphy, as I predicting in the preview, is throwing up tons of points.

“Making His Mark”: Romanchik. He took out Fargo GR Champ Elijah Sullivan in round 3 and parlayed that into a 2-0 win to get to quarters.

145

TOM’s Picks: 1. James Green 2. Eric Roach 3. Mitch Minotti 4. Nick Hodgkins

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• James Green, NJ vs. Josh Clark, VA
• Eric Roach, IN vs. Lex Ozias, MD
• Pete Baldwin, FL vs. Henry Carlson, VA
• Mitch Minotti, PA vs. Nick Hodgkins, PA

Notes: It may have run nearly parallel to our predictions, but there was drama all around. There may not have been a more compelling weight bout-to-bout. Many, many tight, competitive matches. There were no easy outs here. And look at the final 8. Sheesh. 8 studs.

“Making His Mark”: Josh Clark. He gets overlooked a bunch because he’s always a bridesmaid…always on the verge. He’s a senior and a really solid kid. A DI school would be well served checking him out.

152

TOM’s Picks: 1. Max Schneider 2. Felipe Martinez 3. Cody Combs 4. Henry Carlson

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• Felipe Martinez, OH, vs. Jonathan Rivera, GA
• Josh Smith, NC vs. Christian Barber, NJ
• Ryne Cokeley, KS vs. Tyler Askey, GA
• Brian Brill, PA vs. Codey Combs, DE

Field Changes: Max Schneider (scratched)

Notes: It would have been one thing if Christian Barber made the quarters against another obvious contender. Though I didn’t anticipate him beating FL’s Clark Glass, I had figured he could make a run. Now he finds himself in an improbable ¼ against a wild card in Josh Smith of North Carolina.

“Making His Mark”: Tyler Askey. I knew he was this good. He’s just confirming it on a big stage.

160

TOM’s Picks: 1. Taylor Massa 2. David Wesley 3. Nikko Reyes 4. Issah Meade

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• Taylor Massa, MI vs. Kyle Koziel, FL
• Cody Weircioch, PA vs. Jay Matheus, DE
• Patrick Jennings, NY vs. David Wesley, VA
• Doug Hamann, NJ, Nikko Reyes, CA

Field Changes: Issah Meade (scratched)

Notes: Wesley has filled out his frame with muscle. He looks tough. Also, Matheus could be throw his name in the hat as one of the best at this weight. He’s looking sharp.

“Making Their Mark”: Youngsters Reyes and Weircioch, which were successful for questionable, and Burke Paddock. I think all the answers were here. Reyes was a Soph. National champ. Weircioch was the highest weighted freshman to ever win a title in PA. Are they legitimate? Yesterday proved they are.

171

TOM’s Picks: 1. Brandon Griffin 2. Jason Luster 3. Wally Figaro 4. Pat Downey

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• Jason Luster, PA vs. Josh Snook, DE
• Hunter Adams, VA vs. Brandon Griffin, OR
• Colin Hedash, PA vs. Scotty Bacon, WA
• Tyler Coleman, OH vs. Wally Figaro, FL

Field Changes: Pat Downey (scratched)

Notes: After wrestling 152 last year, I anticipated Jason Luster being small at 171. That’s not the case at all. He’s big. It’s a shame Griffin and Luster are on the same side. They’re the class of this weight and should meet in the finals.

“Making their Mark”: Hedash and Snook. Both have always been solid but not spectacular. They were more on the side of the latter Saturday.

189

TOM’s Picks: 1. Kenny Courts 2. Josh DaSilveira 3. Nick Kidd 4. Stephen Ceremuga

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• Kenny Courts, PA vs. Anthony Abro, MI
• Tony Bennett, WV vs. Nick Kidd, MA
• Joe Jessen, VA vs. Vic Avery, MA
• Jesse Doyle, NC vs. Cody Johnston, MO

Field Changes: Ceremuga (scratched) and DaSilveira (moved up to 215)

Notes: Welcome to the Kenny Courts show. He’ll get a legitimate test in Kidd at 8AM, but he’s outclassing this field.

“Making His Mark”: Jesse Doyle. After a solid NHSCA performance, he’s backing it up here as a national talent.

215

TOM’s Picks: 1. Mike Kennedy 2. Pat Gillen 3. Zach Nye 4. Scott Syrek

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

• Joseph Cummings, NY vs. Matt Idelson, PA
• Dave Quackenbos, PA vs. Josh DaSilveira, FL
• Zach Nye, PA vs. Matt Mongera, PA
• Scott Syrek, PA vs. Ian Kirkman, NC

Notes: In a battle of PA state finalists, Nye and Mongera square off in the morning. It’s one to watch.

“Making Their Mark”: Idelson and Kirkman. Idelson won the Beast of the East last year but was then lost for the season due to injury. I think it’s safe to say he’s back and he’s for real. Kirkman backs up his strong Disney performance.

HWT

TOM’s Picks: 1. Jacob Aiken-Phillips 2. Caleb Baker 3. Collin Campbell 4. Wayne Purnell

Quarterfinal Match-Ups
Collin Campbell, NC vs. Jalil Page, PA
David Riles, NC vs. Tyler Maher, NC
Chandler Ford, TX vs. Wayne Purnell, DE
Ben Tammany, NH vs. Jacob Aiken-Phillips

Field Changes: Ross Burbank (did not make weight)

Notes: Nearly par-for-the-course. The Tarheel State surprising with 3 on the front side.

“Making His Mark”: Chandler Ford. There were rumblings of his ability. It’s manifested itself. He’s good.

On a Personal Note

I’m on fire! Of those I’m coaching down here, I have 5 in quarters. I’m in the corner for Mike Fleck (119), Ty Lydic (135), Mitch Minotti (145), Brandon Griffin (171), and Jalil Page (285). Wish me luck!